Waterway tunnels, a novel type of infrastructure designed for inland waterways in mountainous gorge regions, have seen rapid development in recent years. However, their unique structural characteristics and specific shipping activities pose significant risks in the event of an accident. To enhance the scientific rigor and efficiency of emergency responses to vessel incidents in tunnels, this study focuses on fire accidents in waterway tunnels. Considering the unique challenges of emergency response in such scenarios, we propose an emergency response framework using Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). The framework is mapped into a Petri net model encompassing three key stages: detection and early warning, emergency response actions, and recovery. A Colored Hierarchical Timed Petri Net (CHTPN) emergency response model is then developed based on fire incident data and emergency response time functions. Furthermore, a homomorphic Markov chain is employed to assess the network’s validity and performance. Finally, optimization strategies are proposed to improve the emergency response process. The results indicate that the emergency response network demonstrates strong accessibility, effectively mitigating information bottlenecks in critical stages of the response process. The network provides accurate and rapid decision support for different tunnel ship fire scenarios, efficiently and reasonably allocating emergency resources and response teams, and monitoring the operation of key emergency response stages. This enhances the efficiency of emergency operations and provides robust support for decision-making in waterway tunnel fire emergencies.

In recent years, the storage of lithium-ion battery (LIB) containers in general cargo container yards has become an urgent operational requirement for port container terminals. To effectively control the impact range of thermal runaway (TR) incidents in LIB containers and reduce potential economic losses, it is imperative to establish appropriate isolation protocols. This study develops a mathematical–physical model of heat transfer following LIB container TR, incorporating (1) the national regulation limiting stacking height to three layers, (2) the exothermic characteristics of LIB TR, and (3) the fundamental heat transfer theory. Through detailed numerical simulations based on actual engineering scenarios, our analysis demonstrates that when (1) The TR temperature of conventional LIBs remains below 700 °C, (2) the thermal conductivity of goods in adjacent ordinary cargo containers does not exceed 10 W/(m·K). An effective isolation configuration can be achieved by (1) arranging no fewer than four ordinary cargo containers longitudinally and (2) placing no fewer than two ordinary cargo containers transversally. The methodology and conclusions presented in this study provide practical guidance for industrial applications and demonstrate significant engineering value.